twitter in medical education

Twitter for Medical Education – What is it and Why Should I Care?

Julie K. Hewett International Association of Medical Science

Educators (IAMSE)

What is Twitter?Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service

that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets.

Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access.

Source: Wikipedia (August 2009)

What is TwitterShort & Sweet –

Twitter is:An information sharing application that

serves as a conduit for connecting people.

Twitter BasicsFirst Step:

Go to Twitter.comAnd create an account

Twitter BasicsSecond Step:

Customize yourAccount

Twitter BasicsOnce you have an account, you will

need to “follow” peoplein order to receive “Tweets”

Others need to “follow” you to see your “Tweets”

Twitter BasicsWays to find people to follow:

Twitter BasicsClick to Follow

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Send a Direct Message

Twitter BasicsSend a Tweet

Twitter BasicsReceive

aResponse

Twitter BasicsHashtags

Wikipedia Definition (August 2009):• In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-

hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information (such as an internet bookmark, digital image, or computer file).

• This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching.

• Tags are chosen informally and personally by the item's creator or by its viewer, depending on the system.

Twitter BasicsShort & Sweet

#Hashtag:Method to add a reference label to a

conversation for future searchese.g., #IAMSE10 – IAMSE 2010 Conferencee.g., #MedEd – Medical Education

Twitter in Medical EducationWho is using Twitter in MedEd?

– Medical Schools– Hospitals– Health Organizations– Medical Libraries– Medical Journals– Faculty Members– Students

Twitter in Medical EducationExamples of Medical Schools using TwitterDuke - @dukemedicineYale - @yalemedicineUMDNJ @umdnj_rwmsUniversity of Missouri SOM - @mumedicineOhio State Medical Center - @osumcUniversity of Michigan – @UMHealthSystemsUniversity of Texas – Houston - @UTMedSchool Dalhousie Medical School - @DalMedSchoolLeiden University Medical Center - @LUMC_Leiden

Twitter in Medical EducationTop 5 HospitalsMayo Clinic – 6,639

@MayoClinicAurora St Luke’s – 4,869

@Aurora_HealthSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – 3,595 @StJudeChildren’s National Medical Center – 3,141

@ChildrensHealthScripps Memorial Hospital – 3,119

@ScrippsHealth

Followers as of August 23, 2009

Twitter in Medical EducationExamples of Health Organizations Using TwitterWorld Health Organization – @WHONewsNational Institute of Health - @nih_govCenter for Disease Control - @CDCEmergency @CDCFlu @CDC_eHealth

Twitter in Medical EducationExamples of Medical Libraries Using TwitterFlorida Int’l Univ Medical Library - @fiumedlibYale Medical Library - @ymedlibCommonweath Medical Library - @tcmclibraryVAMC Medical Library - @vamcmedlibChiang Mai Thailand University Library - @cmumedlib

Twitter in Medical EducationExamples of Medical Journals using TwitterJAMA - @JAMA_currentBritish Medical Journal - @bmj_latestStudent BMJ - @StudentBMJAmerican Journal of Nursing - @AmJNursPubMed - @ncbi_pubmed

Complete Listing - http://laikaspoetnik.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/medical-journals-on-twitter/

Twitter in Medical EducationLet’s not forget -

Faculty Members & Students!

Twitter in Medical EducationHow can Twitter be used?

– Announcements– Helping Students to Study– Gathering Resources– Sharing Resources– Promoting Activities– Sharing Employment Opportunities– Networking

Twitter in Medical Education

Example of

Tweets

Twitter in Medical EducationBy Medical Schools

Twitter in Medical Education

Helping Students Study

Twitter in Medical EducationGathering Resources

Twitter in Medical EducationSharing of Resources

Twitter in Medical EducationSharing of Resources

Twitter in Medical EducationTo Promote Activities

Twitter in Medical Education

Promoting Activities

Twitter in Medical Education

Sharing Employment Opportunities

Twitter in Medical EducationAdditional Reading:

• Pharma Twitterama: Exploring the Use of Twitter in Pharma and Healthcare – Shwen Gwee

• 140 Health Care Uses for Twitter – Phil Baumann

Twitter in the ClassroomWays in which Twitter can be used in the classroom• Direct Tweets between

Faculty/Students• Connect with Fellow

Students• Collaborate on Project• Make Announcements• Take a Poll (Twitpol.com)• Share Resources• Follow Mentors• Promote an Event

• Sharing Pictures (Twitpic.com)• Brainstorming• Virtual Attendee at Events

Source: 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the College Classroom

Twitter Tools

Tools to Make it Easier!

Twitter ToolsTweetDeck

Tool that allowsyou to sort yourfollowers into

groups.

Application can be synched to iPhone

Twitter ToolsSeesmicDesktop

Tool that allowsyou to sort yourfollowers intogroups & to

monitor multipleaccounts at

the same time.

Twitter Tools

Twitter – Final ThoughtsWhy Should I Care?• Your students are tweeting• Your institution is tweeting• Your colleagues are tweeting

What are they saying? What are they sharing?

Twitter – Final ThoughtsIs Twitter a waste of time?

It depends on how you use it and who you follow!

Twitter – Final Thoughts• Think about how you want to use Twitter before

you begin to follow people• Tweet with value• Use tools such as Tweetdeck or Seesmic to make

it easier• Use #Hashtags when appropriate• Ask questions / solicit feedback• Don’t feel obligated to follow back

@iamse@jkhewett

Contact: julie@iamse.org